St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-11-26
A BLIGHTED HOPE.
4 Long Glorioue Spree
which Did Not Take Pla0o.

n oII0ntEO TIOV6s
4 Long Contemplated Glorious 0pree
which Did Not Take Place.
During the war. Colonel Ben. T. Dn
val. . prominent lawyer of Fort Smith.
and Captain Joe Bishop. farmer OF
Carroll County. Ark. were so inti-
mately associated in convivial way
they were almost inseparably intoxi-
Gated. Bishop had a peculiar knack OF
getting whisky and Duval had apeculiar
knack Of drinking it. In this accom-.
plishment. however. he could claim nc
superiority over Bishop. gentleman
who. regardless of his theological
name, could introduce drought into a
lug with the suddenness of an unex-
pected climax. Bishop was an engima
to many of his brother officers. Some
times when Generals and COlOnels.
with that intensified thirst brought
about by total lack of moral restraint,
were praying in vain for whisky, the
mysterious Bishop would dive down
into a pile of shucks or burrow into y
stack Of fodder and come out with
bottle. the contents of which, in de-
licious secrecy, he always shared with
the capaciOus Duval.
When the war closed. Bishop, with n
Jug in one hand. alighted on his feet.
He and Duval went into = dense pine
thicket and as Gibbon. in speaking of
the early leaders OF the church would
SAY, amused themselves at their leis-
ure.' Duval went back to his law
practice in Fort Smith and Bishop re-
turned to his farm in Carroll County.
The fences were destroyed and the
fields were overgrown with bushes. but
with the vigor Of determined man he
went to work. One day. three years
later, he thus addressed his wife:
1--WE are now in first-rate fix. The
farm was never in better condition and
| don't think we ever had as much
money rs we've got now. so l have
been thinking Of little trip. All the
time l was working and delving in the
hot sun there was an idea uppermost
i'm nv mind. and that was the hope
that some day should be able to go to
Fort smith and have one more drunk
with Ben Duval. Now. you needn't
saw a word. haven't touched a drop
in three years AMI now claim the
privilege of one more wartime drunk
with Ben. Won't waller around. you
understand. Just want to get on a
gentlemanly drunk and sit around and
talk"
..well." Mrs. Bishop replied. ':you
may 60"
Enough said"
Joe mounted his horse. and after
riding one hundred and eighty miles
he arrived ut Fort Smith. After some
inquiry. he found Duval's Office. He
fingered at the door before entering,
and then. mastering his feelings. he
went in and seeing his old friend. busy
with q pile of papers. asked:
rs this Colonel Ben I. Duvars Of
fice?"
The Colonel, not recognizing Joe,
whose face was covered with q heavy
beard, replied:
..Yes, sir. Have . seat"
Joe sat down, and. after a few mo-
ments, during which time the Colonel
continued to humble over his papers.
asked:
..ls Colonel Duval in?"
Il am Colonel Duval."
..Wall. Ben. don't you know lne?"
'.My gracious alive!" exclaimed Du-
val, springing from his seat and grasp.
ing his friends hand. ''Why. my dear
fellow. I am delighted to see you"
..Go ahead with your work. Ben
Don't let me interrupt you.
IL am about done for to-day.
"Well. then. let's walk down the
street"
As they were walking along. Joe
said. Lets 60 some place where
they keep good liquor and talk over
old times"
"Let us cross here" said Duval.
They entered saloon. ''What are
YOU going to have, Benz
well. Joe. you see, l have stopped
drinking. Bartender. make me lem
onade.''
"A what?" Joe gasped.
s.i.emonade."
bartender" said Joe. ''I'll take
about four fingers straight.
Joe's countenance had undergone .
change. His enthusiasm was gone.
and as. he leaned against the bar. while
the bartender was making the lemon
ade. he thought Of the hot corn rows
through which he had toiled. and.
deeply affected, he wiped the perspira-
ton from his brow. When they had
drunk and gone out on the street.
Duval. noticing the change in his
friends manner, asked:
..Joe. what's the matter with you?'
Nothing"
"Well. which way are you going?"
..'Round here where / left my
horse
..Bring him around to my place.
You must remember. my dear friend,
that yon are my guest IS long as you
are in this town.
When they reached the place where
the horse had been left. and rs Joe was
preparing 10 mount. Duval said:
'What are you going to do?"
"Going home"
What. going home? Why. Joe, tell
me what is the matter with you"
Joe, with one foot in the stirrup,
turned and said: '.Ben T. Duval, you
amt fitten-ain't fitten to associate with
man nor beast. Lens0nGde"' ~
He mounted his horse and rode back
to Carroll County -Arkansoc Troc.
eier.
Little Johnny's Wish.
"Papa, wish you would help me